Tomato Garden Pasta Recipe

Aileen Sheehan of Stafford, Virginia mixes fresh tomatoes, green beans and pasta with a splash of balsamic vinaigrette, a hint of basil and chives and crumbled feta cheese for a colorful, Mediterranean delight. “I have served this many times, using fresh tomatoes from my garden. It’s a wonderful side dish,” Aileen says. “With Italian sausage and basil bread, it's a scrumptious meal.”

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions, adding beans during the last 5-6 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk the oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Stir in the tomatoes, garlic, chives and basil. Drain pasta mixture and add to tomato mixture; toss to coat. Serve warm or at room temperature. Sprinkle with cheese just before serving.Yield: 8 servings.

Originally published as Tomato Garden Pasta in Light & Tasty
August/September 2007, p66

"This was really easy to make and delicious! The veggies give it great color and all the flavors compliment each other. Great summertime pasta salad! I'm thinking about adding grilled chicken to it next time to add some protein so it can be more of a main dish."